CandH top blogger Allen Cummings watches the return of the West Ham Way and wonders whether the younger generation of Hammers fans can truly accept it!
I reckon Hugh got it spot on with his ‘Back to the Future’ headline for West Ham’s thrilling 5-3 victory over Hertha Berlin. There was end-to-end football, goals aplenty and a cavalier attitude that said “however many goals you score, we’ll try to score more”.
That, in a nutshell, is the famous West Ham Way Ron Greenwood preached way back in the 1960’s. The style that won us plenty of friends at home and abroad. The style that won us our first ever FA Cup, followed by that magnificent European Cup Winners’ Cup victory, and in truth was instrumental in producing that amazing trio of players that went on to win the World Cup.
But judging by some of the comments posted on various forms of social media after Wednesday’s victory, I’m not sure some of our fans are truly ready to accept such an open and expansive brand of football in this day and age. “Back four were all over the place”…..”Defence was a shambles”….”Defensive work needed and quick”….”At times we were torn to shreds”.
There were clearly plenty of furrowed brows. We have always liked to preach about the West Ham Way – boast about our proud tradition of wanting to play the game in the right way. Some of us have seen and experienced that ‘original’ West Ham Way for ourselves.
It could be exhilarating and exasperating in the space of minutes. Others talk fondly of it, but do they fully appreciate it. Are they really ready to accept it again in its raw form? I have my doubts.
Defensive midfielders – attackers who track back – that’s the order of the day now but those kind of players didn’t really feature very highly, if at all, in Greenwood’s master plan. Today it’s a very different world. Supporters wont accept players who are simply one dimensional. The stakes are so much higher of course nowadays. The cost of failure is so much greater.
In reality the true and original brand of playing the ‘West Ham Way’ while being a thing of beauty is also a thing of the past. But all is not lost. I believe under Manuel Pellegrini we now have a genuine opportunity to see for ourselves that the spirit at least lives on from that bygone age – with a few modern-day tweaks of course.
As Hugh said the signs are it’s going to be an interesting season – a footballing roller coaster at times maybe. A season with both highs and lows – interesting and intriguing but never boring.
ClaretandHugh member Wolfie Horgan described Wednesday’s result as a “Keeganesque scoreline”. A reference to that brilliant Newcastle United side of the 80’s. I’d certainly settle for a few more of those in the nine months ahead. But would everyone else?
I think it’s gonna be a exciting season one way or another this season
Absolutely spot on, got into a heated debate with a guy on a West Ham page on FB. Was saying Johnson was not good enough, the kids the real deal and just finding his way, but the kid understands the West Ham way! I’m loving it, not seen this since DiCanio
I have to say I am not so concerned with the defense as with our defending from midfield. Wilshere just does not have the legs to play as an 8 or defensive mid alongside Rice. We dont need another CH and especially Gary Cahill, Rice can play at the back if needs be so we need a centre midfielder. We also need to sell Chica as his body language is just not good enough. We need another forward player even if he stays. An exciting player in the mould of Anderson. I am not as impressed with our signings as most people seem to be and I just feel we need more. Diangana is not the answer even though he scored a good goal. He needs to go out on loan to get playing time.
And Sam Allardyce knew them well. Despite their moans about him most “younger” supporters have absolutely no idea what the West Ham way was. He was right in that and they would rather be safe like him.
For us that date back to Ron Greenwood’s days, we know. It was special. It was entertaining and frankly, if we lost 5-3 we didn’t really care that much.
You are right. Which is a shame. If only Pell could be as committed to the West Ham way – but sadly his salary is probably a thousand times what Ron earned and he wants to keep it as long as possible! I just dream!
Na na naaaa….weee’re gonna scooore 2 mooore than youuuuuu.
Well said ⚒
Bloody hell jonhham any chance u having a day off? Litrally every post on this side u are banging on about the need for CDM and Wilshire isn’t good enough and we need a RM that can cut in on his left give it a rest already. You must be getting bored of writing the same comment over and over. I’m sure pelle knows better than u do don’t worry yourself.
Entertainment ! That s what it’s all about.
Unitl we start flirting with the relegation zone …
There has to be a balance between attacking and defensively-minded players in our squad and I still think we’re light at CDM. A young Scott Parker or Bonzo required please! (I am dreaming …)
And in reference to the days of Keegan at Newcastle, they were great to watch but let’s not forget they spent a fortune and couldn’t defend the lead they’d built up at the league. Having said that, if we come second in the league and play champagne football all season, “I’d love it!”
Totally agree…. Not old enough to remember Greenwood but John Llyal layed the same way. Stop looking at the Negatives. Hopefully exciting times ahead!!
I remember Chelsea 5 – 5 West Ham and Spurs .3 – 4 West Ham
Great article Allen and hit the nail on the head as witnessed by so many comments whilst I never witnessed Greenwood’s play live being born in 71, I remember well enough the swagger and style we played with in 70’s and 80’s and not caring if we lost 5 3 so long as we took it to our opponents and it was a good match.
I don’t think in modern football, it’s realistic to play entirely attacking football. When the social media meltdowns and the financial implications of relegation, there has to be some sort of balance. I want to play the West Ham way but I think we need much better defenders to make that realistic, with our current options, we will have to compromise.